Best air compressor for a "lightweight"?

[ashooter]

I see lots of posts/threads about air compressors, but most seem like they would be giant overkill for me.

What I want is a small 12v air compressor that can be jumper cabled straight to the battery and will air up a tire when I get a flat and have to plug it out in the boonies. The Walmart variety I've messed with in the past just plain suck - they either won't get the pressure above about 25 lbs and/or they take 30 minutes or more to do it. I'd like a GOOD/tough compressor, but not a $300+ one that takes up a lot of storage space or has to be bolted into the truck. I'm not airing up/down a lot and might only use it a couple of times a year... but it has to WORK even if it spends most of its life just sitting in the back of the truck.

One that looks like it might be the ticket is the "Atom Aire" shown on Extreme Outback's webiste. Anybody know anything about it?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[Bomar]

Heavy Duty Air Compressor

Master Flow MF-1050 Tsunami High Volume Portable Air Compressor

You can search and everyone uses these to Habor Freight to ARB

 

[ashooter]

Bomar,

Do you know what the dimensions are? Would it fit in an ammo can or small toolbox or something like that?

Thanks.

 

[Niner]

nice size decent paced portable compressor I have something like this

 

[Tools R Us]

The Tsunami's are great Compressor's for the $. Costco has them for ~$50. I have a couple that have been getting the snot beat out of them for a couple of years. A bunch of our club members have them, the only failures we have seen are the cords. After much use the connections come loose, not the best crimps, I soldered mine and haven't had a problem since.

When I used the Tsunami, I had a pair, for two reasons; Used one to air each side, making the job go quicker. When we got them they were new and cheap, I didn't trust them, so having two allowed for redundency. Now they are well proven, I still carry one as a backup to the Puma.

One of our members broke the air filter on his before he even ran it. Decided not to replace it, use it as a "durability test", see how long it would last sucking up AZ dust. After two+ years it's still going strong, but I guess the test is over, he just got a Puma.

 

[cardinal33]

Heavy Duty Air Compressor

Master Flow MF-1050 Tsunami High Volume Portable Air Compressor

You can search and everyone uses these to Habor Freight to ARB

the compressor in the picture is worse than using a hand pump, I shot mine with a hunting rifle the same year i bought it - the epitomy of chinese manufacturing poisoning - go with an ARB compressor from Marlin - he sells the one that is for multi purpose heavy duty use not just air locker operation - being this is an expedition builds thread - no expedition should rely on such a honk of junk as this. I would not risk a trip to my aunts house knowing that is what I got for compressed aire. Another option is to go with a small AC compressor and run it off of an inverter, still bettere than the "4 wheel-walmart" special

 

[roscoFJ73]

There is a lot of compressors that look the same because they come from the same factory . There are however big differnces in the quality of components.
The cheapies have plastic pistons,the good ones have high quality alloy.
Look for ones with 5 year warrantys.
Mine(maxair) won a competition conducted by independant mechanical engineers. Its supposd to be able to inflate 20 offroad tyres